Disturbing Behavior (1998)

Disturbing Behavior Poster

Steve Clark is a newcomer in the town of Cradle Bay, and he quickly realizes that there's something odd about his high school classmates. The clique known as the "Blue Ribbons" are the eerie embodiment of academic excellence and clean living. But, like the rest of the town, they're a little too perfect. When Steve's rebellious friend Gavin mysteriously joins their ranks, Steve searches for the truth with fellow misfit Rachel.

Intro
"Disturbing Behavior" is a 1998 sci-fi scary film directed by David Nutter. The film stars James Marsden, Katie Holmes, and Nick Stahl, and provides a plot revolving around high school trainees who go through personality modifications supposedly since of a sinister conspiracy in their village.

Plot Summary
Steve Clark (played by James Marsden) is a brand-new trainee at Cradle Bay High School, having actually moved with his family from Chicago after the suicide of his older brother. He rapidly befriends castaways Gavin (Nick Stahl) and Rachel (Katie Holmes). Gavin shares his suspicion about the eerie changes in the school's "Blue Ribbons"-- a group of perfect trainees known for their outstanding grades and remarkable habits. Despite their excellent temperament, these trainees have strange erratic outbursts of violence.

Strangely, Steve's other buddies begin joining heaven Ribbons and displaying similar disturbing behavior. Worried, Gavin points Steve towards the high school's psychologist, Dr. Caldicott (Bruce Greenwood), who he believes is responsible for these changes. Gavin theorizes that the physician is brainwashing or managing trainees in some way to comply with an ideal of habits, only for the control to sometimes break, triggering the violent outbursts.

The Conspiracy Unfolds
When Gavin becomes a Blue Ribbon overnight, Steve and Rachel decide to examine his theory. They find clues leading them to Caldicott and discover that the psychologist has actually undoubtedly been implanting microchips in the students' brains, effectively turning them into the submissive, high-achieving Blue Ribbons. The duo discovers that the violent outbursts happen when sexual ideas, reduced by the chip, battle versus the control.

Final Showdown
The motion picture develops towards a conflict between Steve, Rachel, and the mind-controlled trainees led by Dr. Caldicott. As the number of Blue Ribbons grows, Steve and Rachel have to ward off their schoolmates while trying to reveal the full level of Caldicott's operation. They manage to disable the gadget, releasing the trainees from Caldicott's control. Steve's moms and dads, oblivious to the events, consider sending him for treatment with Caldicott, however Steve tosses the card away, hinting the end of Caldicott's reign.

Themes and Comments
"Disturbing Behavior" pitches conventional teenage rebellion versus social conformity pressures. By showcasing a psychologist's harmful experimentation to create best trainees, it critiques systems that focus on high achievement over mental wellness. The film makes an attempt at suspense and scary, periodically punctuated with components of high school drama and the delights of teenage life.

Nevertheless, the motion picture struggles with pacing problems and frequently depends on cliches of the scary genre. The performance by the cast, especially James Marsden and Katie Holmes, is praised, however the movie tends to lose momentum in its plot progression.

In conclusion, "Disturbing Behavior" is a science-fiction horror that amalgamates teen angst with aspects of mental adjustment and rebellion. While it may not stick out as a classic in scary or teenager film categories, it supplies a decently entertaining experience, particularly for fans of late-90s cinema.

Top Cast